PA REGIONAL TOURNAMENT RETURNS!

On Saturday October 15th, 2022 we held our first tournament since 2019. It would be an understatement to say it was a great success!

Students competed in Sparring, Forms, Self Defense and Weapons Forms and showed their skills, grit, positive attitude and great sportsmanship all day!

Smiles from so many of the participants, parents, staff and judges were everywhere I looked. It’s hard to explain how these types of events can help a student be braver or a parent have pride and see the value in what their kids are learning. I have been lucky enough to be a competitor, a judge, a parent and a teacher throughout my years of training with Villari’s, and there’s no easy way to explain it all. If you’ve done it, you know. If not, then you need to!

There were so many moments, small and large, that made me smile as I walked around. older brother coaching little sister between matches. I wish I had a pic or a video of this, but I was just in the moment and didn’t think to record it. Kids high fiving each other after a competition, event though they’d just met. Parents sitting next to each other, shadow sparring as their kids were in a sparring match. Great demo team performances, spotlighted black belt forms on display, overcoming fears and nerves, learning and expressing humility and pride…..the list truly goes on.

Below are some pictures I stole from FB, and they really only represent a small portion of the day. Thank you all for being such an important part of a great day!

WINNING IS SIMPLY IN COMPETING.